New David Bradley owner with questions

Lumbergod255 · Jul 20, 2019

Hello everyone!!

I just purchased a David Bradley walk behind snow plow. Got a great deal on it. But I know nothing about them. The guy I bought it from knew nothing about it either. He didn t even know if the motor turned over. It does. It s weathered but looks to be in restorable condition. I saw no major damage. The clutch engages. Looks to have the factory wheels on it and good tires. It is a model # 917.5752. Series 251. I m looking for any info or tips I can get on this. Any idea what year this was made?? I m concerned that the motor may not be original. It looks to have a modern type pull start Briggs and Stratton 2 horsepower motor that is white. Any help and ideas are appreciated! Thank you all!

jeffcat · Jul 20, 2019

Actually looking pretty good. You can do a restoration if you want but if it
works I would leave her alone. Go play with it.

T.R.K. · Jul 20, 2019

It probably is a replacement engine. If the air cleaner fits under the hood, I would probably leave it. I am thinking the original engine
was cast iron and had an oil bath air cleaner. I am thinking the intake pipe for that engine in that application was offset and pretty much
unique to the engines used on David Bradleys.

Most of those white engines used a foam air filter. be sure to check the foam in the air cleaner on that engine that is on it. It tends to
rot away if they are allowed to sit.

Lumbergod255 · Jul 20, 2019

Well yes it has a foam filter and it all fits under the hood but it?s just a tiny 2 horsepower motor. That won?t push much snow will it?? If it?s not the original motor then I would like to find something with a little more power. Any idea on the year it might have been built??

Lumbergod255 · Jul 20, 2019

Yes it has a foam air filter. So I?m guessing this is not the original motor. It all fits under the hood but it?s just a tiny 2 horsepower motor. That won?t push much snow. If it?s not the correct engine then what can I replace it with that will fit and has a little more power?? I guess I can go custom and notch the hood if need be, but I would rather not. Any idea of the year it may have been produced??

old · Jul 20, 2019

The engine that came on them when new was only a 2HP and while one would not think it could do much they could. I picked up one at an auction for $5 got it running and I pulled a car with it about a 1/2 mile. While it was slow it did the job I needed it to do at the time

Brendon-KS · Jul 21, 2019

As others indicated, these early DB's were only around 2 hp from the factory. They do not have the weight or traction to be able to utilize much more than that, especially when pushing snow, so a larger engine really won't do much for you. The most powerful DB's made were around 6 hp but about the only way that was fully utilized was with powered implements like mowers. You will for sure want to find a set of chains if you're planning on snow work.

It's great that the hood fits over the replacement engine - I've seen hoods butchered up to provide clearance for non-original engines.

JDEM · Jul 21, 2019

David Bradleys came with aluminum Briggs & Stratton engines in 1959. 7.75 cubic inches, aluminum engine series 80100. With that 8 cubic
inch engines, Briggs changed from cast-iron to aluminum in 1957. Your DB looks like it might be a 1959. So, you might have an orignal
engine. Need the engine numbers. Briggs rated that engine at 3 horsepower and 4.6 foot-pounds of max torque. It was Nebraska tested to make
1.7 max horse on a belt.

JDEM · Jul 21, 2019

Looks like around a model year 1960, David Bradley Super Power 300 with an original aluminum Briggs? What are the numbers on the engine?

New David Bradley owner with questions

Lumbergod255

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jeffcat

Well-known Member

T.R.K.

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Lumbergod255

New User

Lumbergod255

New User

old

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Brendon-KS

Well-known Member

JDEM

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JDEM

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